The Gaston County Board of Education will send a budget request to county commissioners asking for $11 million more than the school board received last year.

The 2013-2014 budget of $52.7 million passed with an 8-1 vote Monday, said Vice Chairman Jeff Ramsey.

County commissioners approved $41.5 million in operating expenses for the school system for the past two years. The new budget request will be go to the commission May 3, said schools spokeswoman Bonnie Reidy.

Ramsey said the increase includes $4.4 million in additional spending for technology, including laptops, and $1.26 million for staff and operating costs for Stuart W. Cramer High School.

It also includes $2.9 million to add 56 teacher assistants and local supplements for educators.

Ramsey said having the best and brightest teachers working locally is his “number one priority.”

“We have to keep and retain these teachers in Gaston County,” he said.

A statewide push is on to increase virtual learning in the classroom and technology is needed to handle it. The added money will help bring the county up to speed, he said.

Also included in the budget is money to expand the L.E.A.P. program by adding four teachers, three behavior intervention specialists, curriculum materials and transportation for students.

The program is for boys with poor attendance in schools, low grades and discipline issues. Students at five elementary schools already participate and the additional money will allow H.H. Beam Elementary to be included and expand the program into York Chester Middle.

Meetings on television?

Board of Education member Chris Howell recently floated the idea of adding about $15,000 to the budget to televise board meetings.

The money was not included in the approved 2013-2014 budget request.

Ramsey said board members decided they did not have enough information on the project to go forward.

He said the operations committee, headed by board member David Phillips, will review the request in May.

Howell felt it was important to see a dollar amount for televising the meeting included in the budget.

“I believe we have a responsibly as a board to do everything in our means to make the community aware of what happens in our meetings,” he said.

Ramsey said he’s in favor of examining the possibility. It costs $865 to broadcast two hours of a meeting at the Gaston County Courthouse’s public forum room.

Gazette reporter Wade Allen can be reached at 704-869-1828; twitter.com/gazettewade.